On Growing Old and Dying

(Ecclesiastes 11:7 -12:14)

There is an appointment that every person will keep. It doesn't matter who you are or what you have or how young or old you are.... you will keep this appointment. Everyone has up to this point and everyone will from here forward. Death is sure. Hebrews 9:27 puts it this way..."And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment". The wisest of the wise, Solomon wasn't able to avoid death or aging and his writings as he grew old reflect the wisdom of his years and gives us sound advice as we face the same future.

His words are very meaningful to me as I am now a little past mid-life and am facing the pains of age. Getting up in the mornings is a little more difficult and doing the things that I once laughed at, is  becoming more challenging. Solomon advises us to enjoy all the days of our lives, but he also advises the young to take full advantage of their youth. He warns them that whatever things they do, they will have to answer for, he says "God will bring you to judgement". So if you are young, have fun, enjoy your lives, but know that if you abuse the time, you will face your Creator in judgment. He calls on the young to "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth".

Solomon uses many symbols to represent the effects of aging. Read his words and let them wash over you as you consider the changes that come as we grow older. He talks about our sight, our posture, our level of energy, our fears, our physical limitations and the lose of desire. He closes this encouraging section with these words... "Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets." He says that our "dust returns to the ground it came from and our spirit returns to God who gave it". That is the future for some. It is the present for others and the past for billions of others. It is sure, you and I will share the exact same future. If we live, we will age, if we age, we will suffer the effects and death is an appointment that we all will keep.

He concludes this section with a few verses that he tells us are the conclusion of the matter. He doesn't leave us depressed with little to look forward to. Rather, he sums it all up and sends us on our way to live out the lives we have left.... with purpose!

Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.  
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.(Ecclesiastes 12: 13,14)

He tells us that when everything has been heard, all has been said, that our entire duty, our purpose in this life is to "fear God and keep his commandments". When we understand that our lives are short and that we will give an answer for what we have done in the flesh, we will fear the one who will judge us. I know that is not popular Theology these days, but the Bible is clear on this matter... God is to be feared and He is to be obeyed. Solomon warns the young and old alike, you will die and you will face your Creator and answer for everything in your life. Everything hidden, everything known.... everything. That is a scary proposition for us.

Growing old, facing death, going to the judgment.... sounds pretty bad. If that were the end of the story, we would live lives of regret and depression. We would carry around guilt and live every day knowing that we have no hope. Sad. But, thankfully that isn't the end of the story!

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

(1 Corinthians 15:54-58)

Without Jesus, death reigns eternal; with Jesus, death is swallowed up in victory. What fool goes to court to face the judge without his attorney, his advocate? Even more important, who wants to face aging, death and the judgment without Jesus? As Christians, we should understand the fear of the Lord and because of that our hearts should be set on persuading others to come to Him.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. (2 Corinthians 5:10-11)

Tell it!

 

An Equal Opportunity

Much is said these days by politicians about our nation and it's ability to provide an equal opportunity for success to all. Not much is said about effort. Not much is said about hard work. Not much is said about taking risks and the possibility of failure. Is the Bible silent on this issue? Does God speak to the idea of hard work and success?

Our Daily Bible reading today includes some interesting teachings that deal with work and success. The sections that I am going to be focusing on are Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4-5; 12:11; 24:30-34. They all convey a consistent message.... let's study them together and see if we can gain some wisdom.

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:6-11)

The Proverb writer uses an illustration that people anywhere, any time can relate to. Who has not watched ants as they labor and admired their work ethic. I have never seen an ant take a break. I have never seen an ant carry a protest sign or stand on a picket line. I have never seen an ant union. Maybe there are lazy ants... but I have never seen one. The writer tells us that the ant works when it is time to work without being told to work. The ant doesn't need a boss or a job description. The ant just works hard every day to prepare for the times of need.

God tells us that we need to be like the ant. He calls us from laziness and calls us to hard work. He warns us that sitting around will end in poverty. Success is not guaranteed. Sometimes the ant works hard, stores up for the winter and a storm washes it all away. Sometimes it's nature, other times it's a predator and sometimes it is poor planning. Success is not guaranteed for the ant, but what is guaranteed for the ant is failure if it doesn't work hard and so the ant works.

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. (Proverbs 10:4-5)

The writer gives us a contrast between those that are "slack" and those that work diligently. Slackness.... Poverty. Diligence.... Riches. He tells us that if we work when we are supposed to, we are "prudent" and if we lay in the bed, we suffer shame. Hard work, diligent work is held up as something to take pride in, while laziness is something that we should feel ashamed of.

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. (Proverbs 12:11)

The Proverb writer is giving us advice on what we go after, what we pursue. You need food, work your garden and you will be fed. He tells us that "our dreams" can lead to worthless ends. He is encouraging us to to not only work hard, but also work smart. Some pursuits are worthless! We might even work hard in a pursuit; but if that pursuit is selling ice to Eskimos... don't expect success. We are to spend our time and effort on things that have proven to give a harvest or he says that we "lack sense". Success is not guaranteed, but it will surely be more likely when we work the land that we know.

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (Proverbs 24: 30-34)

Next the Proverb writer gives us insight from his stroll down the street by a neighbor's house. This is the house of a lazy person that doesn't use good judgement. He owns a vineyard and a field. He owns a home and it has a stone wall around it. By most standards, this is a wealthy person, a successful person. Maybe he was a hard worker at one time or maybe he inherited the farm.... I don't know, but this we know for sure, he will not own it long. He is lazy and doesn't look after what was placed in his care. The writer tells us that as he looked at his neighbors "mess", he received instruction and that instruction is this....A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

He tells us that the outcome of our laziness is surely poverty and want. He tells us that laying down on the job will end in failure. What was once a beautiful vineyard with at lovely stone wall around it has become weeds and rubble. He hasn't cared for the vines, he hasn't maintained the stone wall, so what once provided food and security now produces nothing and allows predators to come in and destroy. We are told that our hard work pays off and that laziness will surely end in poverty. Over and over, the message is the same. God expects His people, His followers to work and work smart. He expects us to care for what we are blessed with and use it for His glory.

We live in a nation that provides opportunity for all. I know of many examples of people coming to this country with nothing and through hard work and determination, they achieve great success. I know of many that were born here and grew up with a sense of entitlement that led them to sit down and expect success to come to them. When it didn't, they demanded a different result. You see, they didn't want and equal opportunity, they wanted an equal result. It doesn't work that way, God says... get up, get a job, go to work and work hard. He will honor your efforts. Success is not guaranteed through hard work, but my witness is that it comes to those that work hard. This I am sure of, the other side of the coin is certain... sit around, do nothing, wait for success to find you and you will find failure in this life.

The next pretty day that comes along, go outside, find an ant hill and sit down and get some instruction. Watch the ants working, looking after their home; carrying food for the family. Learn from the ant! Next, walk by your lazy neighbors house and see the paint peeling, look at the yard and check out his garden and get some instruction. Then go to the home of the neighbor that works hard. I don't care if it is a big house or a little one, the hard workers house will bring him or her honor. It will be cared for, the yard will be mowed, the paint will be fresh and the garden will be green. In this nation, success is not guaranteed, but the opportunity is there and God expects us to work in such a way that brings Him honor and us dignity. Now get off your computer and go get to work. :-)

The Solution for Depression

(Psalm 42)

Man is always looking for solutions to his problems. A quick fix is always preferable; one that costs little and at least puts a band-aid over the issue. Depression is a problem that everyone deals with during their lifetime. Everyone! None go through this life without trouble and trouble brings about depression. Be it financial, relational, physical, emotional or whatever brings you down, trouble is the cause of our depression.
Man's solution... counseling, medication, self-help books, a new job, a new wife.... whatever it takes to remove the "problem" and fix the trouble. Never considering that the next job, the next boyfriend, the next situation will bring with it... trouble. My friends, that is life. It is filled with trouble. Job put it this way... “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble." (Job 14:1) Sounds good doesn't it. His point and my point is the same; if you live life, you will experience trouble, sorrow, pain and problems. Guaranteed!
So what does God have to say about this. I mean, He made us, so He must offer the true solution to our depression. Psalm 42 gives His prescription for life's downs. Let's pull over and park and take a few minutes to read the 42nd Psalm.
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
God's solution for depression... get the focus off of me. When I dwell on my situation; my focus is on me, then the problem is mine and I am responsible for the solution. Be careful to understand what I am saying... of course I will suffer the negative results of a bad decision, but when my attention is on me, life seems miserable. I don't have as nice a car as my neighbor. I don't have as handsome a husband as the lady in the next cube. I don't make as much money as I deserve. I, I, I... you get the idea.
David tells us to place our focus on God, rather than on ourselves, remembering that He is the source of hope and the giver of every blessing. Having a deep desire to be in His presence, in His house with His people, that is what will bring true joy and defeat depression. Depression is defined as "Severe despondency and dejection, accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy." The focus is on me when I am depressed. I am not good enough. I have no hope. As long as I am relying on me, I will be disappointed. But when I depend on God, my focus turns towards Him. As David said, "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?" He lived to be near God, to offer praise and song and prayer. His hope was in the LORD. When others would taunt him, he remembered what God had done for him. When he was distressed, he turned towards God and longed to be with Him. When he was "cast down", when his soul was in "turmoil", he found hope in God and looked forward to praising him, his salvation and his God.
I understand that this is not the popular fix being marketed on television or prescribed by the doctor, but God offers the true solution to every problem, if we will just take the time to seek Him and His wisdom.
Money issues....Philippians 4:10-12; Marriage issues.... Ephesians 5:24-26; Parenting issues.... Proverbs 22:6; Relationship issues.... 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
You see the solutions to our problems and overcoming depression is there for the taking. The problem for most people isn't that it isn't available, it's that they don't want it. God offers the blueprint for a life filled with joy; not a life without pain or trouble, but a life that deals with those things properly. I wish you well, seek the LORD, read His word, abide by His laws and this life and the life hereafter will be wonderful.

Same-sex Marriage

I am going to take a detour today and write about a topic that is getting lots of press these days. Marriage. The citizens of North Carolina will go to the polls on May 8th to vote on a constitutional amendment that defines marriage between a man and a woman as the only legal union recognized by the state. The outcome of the vote is in little doubt. The latest polls show that the measure will pass with about 60% in favor of the amendment, but only God knows the result right now.

The question that I want us to consider is this... what if the outcome was reversed? What if the amendment was to legalize gay marriage and it passed with 60% of the vote? What would that change in your life? How would I react to that? (my guess is that one day it will pass and gay marriage will be the law of the land, so what then?) As a Christian, how do I respond to a law that is in direct conflict to God's word? That is the question that Christians face everyday, all around the world.

We must understand that something being legal does not make that thing right and something being illegal, does not make that thing wrong in certain circumstances. As a Christian, I am to live under that laws of the land. Romans 13:1-7 makes it clear that we are to respect governing authorities and abide by the laws where we live. That is easy for a Christian when the laws that exist do not violate God's law, but when they do... what then? Does God's word give us insight into our conduct when man's law violates God's law? Do we have examples that give us principles that enable us to respond appropriately?

Thankfully, God did not leave us to our own devices. Acts 4 contains the story of Peter and John being charged to stop speaking about Jesus. Their response is clear...But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. Obedience to God is required when a law is in direct conflict with His will. Peter and John remained respectful of the authorities, but understood that submission to civil authorities ended when that authority was in opposition to God. They continued to be obedient to other laws of the land; only the laws that conflicted with God's laws were disobeyed. In other words, general civil disobedience is not found in the scriptures.

Another example of this disobedience is found in the book of Daniel. Daniel and his three friends disobeyed the specific laws that conflicted with God's will. They would not bow down to the statue. They would not discontinue the practice of prayer. Even in their disobedience, they continued to show respect and be law abiding citizens. They disobeyed the law that was in conflict with God's law, but continued to live in obedience to the civil authorities.

So, what does that have to do with gay marriage and the Christian. If an amendment ever passes that legalizes Gay marriage, the Christian must continue to abide by the laws of the land and be in subjection the civil authorities. Consider this, in some parts of the country, prostitution is legal. Does that mean that the Christian then approves of prostitution? Of course not! Does that mean that in those areas of the country the Christian can ignore all the laws? Of course not! The Bible makes it clear that God's design for marriage is that it be between a man and a woman. When man decides that marriage is to be between same sex couples, then that law is in direct conflict with God's teaching and the Christian will speak out against it and will not abide by it; the same way that the Christian speaks out against prostitution and does not abide by that law.

We are called to live lives filled with love for our fellow person. We are to live at peace with everyone, as much as it depends on us. I have many homosexual friends that I love dearly and would do anything for. One thing I would not do for them is let them think that God approves of their "lifestyle" choice.  He does not. There are dozens of scriptures that deal with the sin (breaking God's law) of homosexuality. Romans 1:18-32 is a good example of these scriptures. I do not deny that same sex attraction exists any more than I would deny that some people are attracted to sex with children or some are attracted to drugs and alcohol abuse. The desire to do something does not justify the act of doing it.

As people, we have many things that attempt to draw us away from God, but we make the choice. I choose and when I choose to ignore God's will, I choose to sin. That is what we owe to our fellow person. We owe them the truth and we must in a loving and kind way tell them the truth found in His word. What they do with it is between them and God.

Regardless of the outcome of the vote on May 8th, God's word doesn't change. What is right does not change. If same sex marriage is wrong before the vote, then it is wrong after the vote. A society that changes it's plan does not change His plan. Christians that live under the laws of a land are to conduct themselves as Jesus did when He lived under the laws of Rome. He knew that Caesar was not god, but He obeyed the laws of the land and directed His disciples to do the same. He told the truth and confronted sin. That is our example. Let's live by it.

Pray Like a King

(1 Chron 29:10-20)

David's time as king is almost over as he prepares to turn over the throne to his son, Solomon. I am sure somewhere down deep inside, he is disappointed that God has chosen to let Solomon build the temple. David worked and saved and designed and planned, only to hand over the entire project to his son. Sure, if you have to hand over the reigns to someone, better a son than a stranger. But still, there must have been some hurt, some disappointment in the situation.

That is what amazes me about the prayer that is contained in these verses. Take a moment to read and digest the setting and the words.

Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.”

Then David said to all the assembly, “Bless the Lord your God.” And all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and paid homage to the Lord and to the king.

David rises above the human disappointment, puts aside his ego and praises God in prayer. Publicly! He stands before the assembly and proclaims God's goodness and power. Reread the prayer if you need to. Underline the words that leap from the page in worship to God. The thing that really inspires me is that these are the words of a great and powerful king. This leads me to some questions that I believe each of us should ask ourselves.

1. If king David was willing to step down from his throne to put God up there, am I willing to place the King on the throne of my life?
2. Am I willing, in the face of disappointment (when things didn't go like I wanted them to) to praise God for His goodness and power? Or do I pout and think badly of God who didn't conduct His business the way I wanted Him to do it?
3. Am I willing to (like David did) go totally public with my praise for God? Am I willing to let others see me pour out my heart before the LORD?
4. Am I praying for those around me? For God to direct their hearts? For Him to keep our children faithful?
5. Am I willing to thank God, in the midst of my own personal disappointment, for His provision and care in my life?

David was surely a man after God's own heart, but he was also a notorious sinner who struggled just like I do. His example is included in God's word for us to see that even though we are sinners (and we all are), even though we suffer the consequences of those sins, God is always there, always loving us and always ready to welcome us back to His house.

David's prayer is filled with worship and praise because he understood that life here is temporary and that his time as king was "like a shadow and there is no abiding". He looked forward to his home in heaven with God and so he prayed for those that he would leave behind. David left us with a great example in his prayer. May we determine to pray like a king, on our knees, lifting up our friends and family in prayer, praising His holy name. Amen? Amen!

Is Saul Also Among the Prophets

Today's reading - 1 Samuel 8 - 12

The story of Saul as king over Israel is a curious one. The people had demanded a king after Samuel had aged out and his sons were acting improperly. So, God allowed them to have a king, they had rejected His leadership and sought to be like the peoples around them. Saul was selected and Samuel made it official through his anointing and so he ruled as king over Israel.

Many things are noteworthy as we read the history of Israel's transition from judges to kings. One of which is the idea that God's people can reject Him as their leader and all the ramifications that come from disobedience. God warns them that rejecting Him and demanding a king would take away their freedom and that they would become slaves to the king. (8: 17,18) God tells Samuel to solemnly warn them about what the king will do to them and their families, but the desire to be like others was too strong and they chose slavery over freedom. (this sounds familiar)

Another interesting thing to consider is that God changed Saul's heart and he began to prophesy with the other prophets. The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. (1 Samuel 10:6,7) It would seem that God had taken control of Saul's life and he would do and act just as God demanded. But everyone who reads on a little further quickly recognizes that Saul was still free to exercise his will over the will of God. Not only is he free to do it, he does it... repeatedly. How can God change a man's heart, yet the man still be free to chose to live wrongly? And what is God's response to this kind of choosing?

Two good questions, with very complicated answers.  What does it mean that Saul was "changed into a different person" and that "God was with" him? Could he now do "what he wanted to do" and still be God's chosen one? Did "what he wanted to do" change when he became a different person? Some would say that "we always do what we want to do" and that some want to do right because they are God's chosen, while others choose to do wrong because they are not of the elect. The story of Saul gives this concept a difficult time. Saul was God's chosen, yet he rebelled and God rejected him. (1 Samuel 15: 10-35) He disobeyed God's instruction and God "tore the kingdom away from him". Saul still had the ability to chose what to do and in return for those choices he received justice from God.

I have known many who came to God through His Son and saw in them a changed heart. They were a new creation, a different person and lived lives that brought glory to God. But then, for whatever reason they chose to leave God and return to a life of sin. Isn't that what the parable of the sower is all about.

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop— a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. (Matthew 13:3-8)

Every person chooses to be one of these soil types. Some of us will choose to reject Jesus outright. Some of us will accept Him and quickly fall away because we are shallow. Some will accept Him and be faithful for years only to allow life to push Him out. But some will decide to come to Him and never leave and they will bear fruit for life. That is the story that Jesus tells about us. That is the story of Saul, his heart changed and he served God, but life caught up with him and he chose to please others rather than God. Saul paid a big price for his rebellion and we face the same outcome if we willfully chose to live a life without His leadership. God will reject those that reject Him.

Gleaning In The Fields

Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, from the clan of Elimelech, a man of standing, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favour. Naomi said to her, Go ahead, my daughter.So she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.
Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, The LORD be with you! The LORD bless you! they called back. Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, Whose young woman is that? The foreman replied, She is the Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.' She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.
So Boaz said to Ruth, My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled. (Ruth 2:1-9)

I have to believe that gleaning is a difficult job. It must be demeaning and demanding, but is also demonstrative. Let's think it through..... a person who has nothing, trespasses on another's property in order to collect the remnants in fields left behind the harvesters in order to feed themselves and their families. In Leviticus 19 and 23, God tells the Israelites to leave the gleanings for the poor and the alien.

I might be wrong, but my guess is that those that gleaned developed a bad reputation and were looked down on by society and were probably abused. (Boaz had to tell his men not to "touch" Ruth) Maybe not, but knowing how people think and talk, my guess is that the gleaners were not looked upon too kindly. So the story here is of a young widow that had followed her mother-in-law to her homeland that finds food in the fields of another. Hunger does something to a person's pride. (maybe that is why we are told to fast)

Today I am going to go in a totally different direction. I want to you and me to think about gleaning for the LORD. In Luke 10, we are told...The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. In our society, particularly in our hometown, it seems that everyone has heard about Jesus. One way or another, the message of salvation has gone out to almost every person. While we might not all agree on what that message is, most everyone has heard that God sent His Son to die for their sins. So, what do we do? Has the job of reaching the lost been completed? Are we satisfied to sit at home thinking that the field has been harvested?

Hunger does something to a person's pride. (I have heard that somewhere before) If we "hunger and thirst after righteousness", we will not be willing to ride the bench, thinking the game is over. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that "the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." He is not satisfied when the fields still have any harvest left in them. God sent His Son for the "world", the whole world, not a select few.

God has called us to be co-workers with Him. "For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building." (1 Cor 3:9) When we go out into the fields to glean, God is right there with us. He hungers for every soul to be saved, even those that have heard the message and have rejected it or those that have not understood it. He is not satisfied with good enough, He wants every person to have the opportunity to love Him, because He already loves them.

Just like Ruth, we are gleaning in someone else's field. The harvest does not belong to us, but to the One that owns the field. Some fields are full and ready for the harvest, some fields have been harvested and finding the leftovers is more difficult and some fields have never been harvested. Whatever the situation you find yourself in, God says get into the field. He says "go", He says "make disciples of every nation", He says baptize them and teach them. (Matthew 28:18ff) The decision to work is ours, the work is and always has been available; the question for us is are we hungry?

Are you hungry? Or have you and I become desensitized to the work that God has prepared for us to do. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph 2:10) Think about it. Who will glean your part of the field if you don't show up? What will become of those that are left in your part of the field? Let's get up, grab our equipment and hit the field, God says the harvest is waiting. Glean on!